Introduction

The design, performance, and pricing of consumer headphones have changed drastically over the past decade with advanced features such as noise canceling or wireless Bluetooth technology even being placed within models priced under $100.

A particular product that fits under this category is the BT700 Freedom headphones made by NoiseHush. With a reasonable price tag of under $80, the BT700 features wireless Bluetooth technology, a built-in microphone for hands free calling, and an integrated rechargeable battery capable of 20 hours of music/talk time.

NoiseHush provided us with a sample of their BT700 Freedom headphones so this review is based solely on my “hands on” experience with the product. While the product packaging did become slightly damaged during the shipping process (not NoiseHush’s fault), it was still appealing and portrayed a product that is priced far higher. This was something I wasn’t expecting as admittedly I had never heard of NoiseHush so it gave off an excellent first impression.

Design & Build Quality

From a consumer standpoint, cosmetic appeal of a pair of headphones are often a huge determinate of whether you’ll buy a particular pair or not. The BT700s come in a gloss black or white finish and feature a slim, adjustable design. Since we got our hands on the black model, there are several small red accents present such as the inside of the ear cups and the stitching on the headband. The use of red contrasts with the gloss black nicely and is pleasing to the eye.

The headphones can be adjusted in height by a couple inches (via a wire-track) as the fit vary depending on the size or shape of your head. The downfall to this design is that the excess wire track is clearly visible when it is not being utilized aka set to the smallest sizing. The excess wire looks unappealing and does give off a cheap look as you rarely find this design method in the higher-end models.

The build quality of the BT700s is not the toughest with most of the build being comprised of a rather flimsy plastic. However, I was impressed at how soft and plush the padding found on the ear cups was. NoiseHush boasts that they use genuine leather and that’s something most wouldn’t expect at this price point. This type of quality almost makes up for the plastic exterior as the ear cups are the part that will have the largest effect on comfort.

Features

Given the sub-$80 price point, the BT700s come feature-packed and offer several advanced features that are tough to find in similarly-priced competitors. I think the most significant feature included with the BT700s is the wireless Bluetooth technology. This allows you to enjoy your favorite music from your computer, smartphone, MP3 player or tablet without the need for any unnecessary cords which tend to get in the way and become bothersome.

Additionally, the Bluetooth connectivity is extended to handsfree calling which is accomplished via an integrated microphone. On the left earcup there are two different buttons which take care of the power, bluetooth setup, audio controls (pause, play, skip, previous), and answer or hangup phone calls. Navigating through a playlist, answering a phone call, or connecting to your device can be done simply and painlessly.

The built-in rechargeable battery boasts 300 hours of standby and up 20 hours of continuous playback. Within the product packaging, you’ll receive a USB cord for charging and you can also use any micro USB cable you may already own. I would have liked to have a seen a USB to wall outlet adapter included in the box, but it makes sense to not be included at such a low price. I’d guess most people already own one as almost all modern smartphones, tablets, and iOS devices include one.

Function

I replaced my Bose Quiet Comfort 15s with the NoiseHush BT700s for a week’s worth of use and a few things were clear from the experience. As I expected, the BT700s can’t compare in terms of audio quality and overall performance to the QC15s which cost nearly 4 times the price.

With that being said I was impressed at how solid the audio performance was in comparison to the price tag. The lows, mids, and highs are clear and as solid as any competitor in this price range. The packaging did boast “ultra bass” performance, but frankly I found the bass to be rather mediocre with not much depth or accuracy. I think this type of audio performance will be more than enough for the average consumer, but I’d recommend any diehard audiophiles look at a bigger and better set of headphones.

The Bluetooth connectivity is very user-friendly and setup takes less than a minute. I tested the connection in a multitude of difference scenarios to examine the signal strength and performance. The NoiseHush BT700s passed with flying colors in all tests and I was even able to leave my office and walk two rooms down into my kitchen (which is separated by two walls and about 25 feet in distance) without receiving any noticeable change in my audio playback.

The headphones are comfortable and lightweight which makes them easy to wear for long periods of time. There were a few times that I forgot I was wearing the headphones mainly since they are wireless and I wasn’t constantly reminded by the presence of a physical cord. I don’t see much of a need for wireless headphones in my situation as I don’t partake in any activities where I think they are necessary, but I could see them being practical in places like the gym, skatepark, or on the ski mountain.

I think the main issue I have with wireless headphones is the added trouble of dealing with batteries. With most traditional wired headphones, you don’t need to rely on batteries and the design is plug and play. With the BT700s, you have to remember to charge your headphones regularly and if you get into a circumstance where the headphones do not have any charge, you do not have the option to throw in disposable batteries (like with the Bose QC15s). In fact, the headphones don’t give the option to use a cord and will be simply rendered useless until the battery is recharged. This could be a major issue for some consumers so I am making it known that the headphones will not function when the battery is dead.

Conclusion

In the end, I found the NoiseHush BT700 Freedom headphones to be a decent product with several advanced features offered at an affordable price tag. If you are someone who is seeking the wireless or hands-free calling capabilities then the BT700s should satisfy your needs nicely. However, if you’re not attached to the wireless technology or you’re someone more interested in the audio performance then you’ll likely want go with another option like the Audio-Technica ATH-M30sand save a few bucks in the process.

Link Disclaimer

Since we are a young company bootstrapping our growth (no corporate bias), we try to maintain a clean user experience without relying on an overload of annoying advertising to keep us afloat financially. Due to this, it are safe to assume every outside link is an affiliate link although this practice will never jade the integrity of our content.

With this, you'll pay no additional cost when shopping through these links yet we will receive a small commission on referred sales which help to keep the lights on. We appreciate your support as this revenue allows us to continue providing free, unbiased content for your benefit.